EU calls on Pakistan to intervene in release of blasphemy accused


Members of the European Parliament have written to the EU’s ambassador of Pakistan calling for his help to release Shahzad Masih.
 
The MEPs called for Masih’s immediate release and compensation on account of undue harassment and detention.
 
They wrote to Zaheer Aslam Janjus seeking intervention the blasphemy case. 
 
The letter was endorsed by Jan Figel, former European Commissioner & European Commission’s Special Envoy for the Protection of Religion outside the European Union.

For nearly four years Masih’s trial has been ongoing despite a lack of evidence. 

In 2017 he was accused of blasphemy when he allegedly told a coworker that a friend of his father swears whenever he hears someone has Muhammad in his name.
 
A complaint was lodged at Police Station Dinga in Kharian, Gujrat. The Superintendent of the Police investigated and concluded there was no blasphemy on the part of Masih. 

He testified in court that he did not find Masih guilty. 
 
But the prosecutor’s office still brought charges, and the case went to trial. 

During the trial, the prosecution witnesses said Masih was merely just stating someone else’s words, and simply reporting someone else’s blasphemy. 

Despite this lack of evidence Masih’s trial took four years.